Beckett (Robinson Destruction #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,34

the cell where they were sitting, and Andrew left them. “My name is Allie Robinson, and this is my husband, Beck. I know your names are Conor and Stripes. I don’t understand why you’d be called that but nothing much more.”

“Her name is Holly. Don’t act all friendly to us. We know you won’t want to keep us both. Well, I’m not going to let you take her from me so that you can let that man mess with her. You hear me, bitch?” Allie looked up at her husband, then back at him. “I’m not afraid of either of you. We will run away from you too if you pull any shit like the last place did.”

The slap to his cheek startled him. When she hit him the second time, he stood up. After being told to sit, he did so before he realized he was making a stand. Conor wanted to hit her back, but he was afraid of Beck. Men could be really mean when you hurt their women.

“You speak to me like that again, and I’ll ground you for the rest of the summer. I’ve done nothing to you to warrant such behavior, and I won’t tolerate you taking your shitty mood out on me. Understand me? Also, you’re going to cool your jets. I’ve only introduced ourselves to you, and you’ve flown off the handle like I’ve told you that you’re going to be slave labor for us. You’re not, in case that is going through your mind. Now, are you willing to keep that trap of yours closed and listen to us?” Conor nodded. He realized then that he had it wrong. He should be more afraid of the woman. “Now. We’re going to start over. My name is Allie Robinson, and that is my husband, Beck. Holly, since your brother is being a little shit, why don’t you tell me a little about yourself.”

Conor had no idea what to do now. Usually, when he was mouthy with one of the adults, they’d say they didn’t want them. Not only had this woman hit him, but she hadn’t raised her voice nor her fist. The slaps weren’t that bad, and he did really deserve it. Conor, never one to show tears, felt them well up in his eyes as he turned to the man, Beck.

“The people there tried to rape Holly. They locked me up so I couldn’t get there to save her. But I got out by busting the door down.” Beck asked him if either of them had been hurt. “Not too much. Holly was tied up, and it cut into her some. I’ve been trying to keep the wound clean, but there isn’t much in the way of water and soap just lying about.”

“I have two brothers that are doctors. I’ll have one of them look at the two of you when we get back to the house. Do you guys have anything other than what you came here with?” The man was talking to him like he was a person, not like he was nothing but a bug under his shoe. Conor felt his eyes fill with tears again when the man asked him how badly he’d been hurt too.

“I’ve been trying my best to make sure Holly wasn’t hurt. But all people want to do is have sex on her. I’m just a kid, but they should know better, don’t you think?” Beck stood up and pulled him up from the seat. Thinking that he was going to be hurt by the large man, Conor stiffened his body for the blows. But all he did was hug him. Tightly too.

Conor only cried at night, when the lights were off, and his sister was asleep. He didn’t have the strength to hold them back anymore and let them flow like they were hot lava making his eyes boil over. Beck held him as tightly as he’d allow him to while Allie did the same to Holly.

He didn’t know how long Beck held him. And really, Conor decided he didn’t care either. It had been so long since anyone had bothered with him in a nice way that he would have stayed there being held all day if he could have. However, when he pulled back, Beck didn’t brush him off like he thought he would but kept his hand on his shoulder lightly, like they were the best of friends. Beck asked Holly if she was all right with having